the Catholic Church
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When did the Church established by Jesus Christ get the name "Catholic"? Jesus Christ did not give a name to his Church. He called the spiritual society which he established "My Church" (Mt 16:18) and "The Church" (Mt 18:17). To distinguish the Church from the Synagogue and from those embracing Gnostic errors, we find the Christian scholar Ignatius of Antioch (50-107 A.D.) using the Greek word Katolicos (universal) to describe the universality of the Church. Other early Christian writers frequently used the name Catholic to describe the Church founded by Jesus. Return to top How large is the Catholic Church? Accurate statistics are hard to obtain. The Vatican estimates the worldwide Catholic population at slightly over one billion. In the United States, Catholics number more than 60 million. Return to top Catholics do not worship Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. Catholics are aware that Mary was a human creature, and therefore not entitled to the honor that is reserved for God alone. Catholics do love and honor Mary because God exalted her more than any other human person in choosing her to be the Mother of Christ (Lk 1:48-55). Return to top Are statues in Catholic churches worshipped as "graven images"? God forbids the making of images to be worshipped as gods (Ex 20:4-6; Dt 5:8-10). Catholics do not think that statues and other works of art are images of the one God or that they possess any divine powers. That would be the sin of idolatry. Statues and pictures remind us of Jesus and the heroes and heroines of the Christian Faith. They serve to inspire us to live more holy lives. Return to top By what authority does the Pope lead the Catholic Church? The Pope, as the Bishop of Rome, is the successor of St. Peter. Jesus made St. Peter the leader of the Apostles, giving him special authority. (See Jn 21:15-17; Mt 16:15-19) The Pope is a strong sign of the unity of the Church throughout the world. Return to top Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest? Catholics confess their sins to a priest because, as Holy Scripture states, Jesus authorized and empowered his Apostles to forgive sin in his name: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. Receive the Holy Spirit: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven." (Jn 20:21-23). Return to top Do Catholics accept the Bible? Catholics believe that the Bible is God's inspired word (2 Tim 3:16). It was the Catholic Church that saved the Bible from destruction during the Dark Ages. Catholics are strongly encouraged to read and study the Bible. The Bible contains the written record of God's revelation. It is the ultimate reliable written foundation of Church teaching on matters of faith and morality. Readings from the Bible are a prominent part of Catholic worship services. See Daily Bible Readings
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Return to top Why does the Catholic Bible have more books than the Protestant Bible? The Catholic Church, through its Councils of Hippo (393 A.D.) and Carthage (397 and 416 A.D.), gathered together the separate books that early Christians venerated as the inspired word of God. These books were included in every collection of Holy Scriptures from the 4th to the 16th century. During the Protestant Reformation, seven complete books and parts of two others were eliminated from Protestant Bibles, based on criticisms by Luther, Calvin and others. (These books are: Tobias, Baruch, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, I Maccabees, II Maccabees plus parts of Esther and Daniel.) Return to top God is our Creator (Gen 1:1). God is our Father (Is 64:7). God is our Savior (Lk 1:47). God is eternal (Ps 90:2,4). God is all-powerful (Lk 1:37). God is all-knowing (1 Sam 2:3). God is all-Good (Ps 136:1). God is holy (Lev 19:2). God is one (Mk 12:29,32). God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19). Return to top Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became human for our salvation (Mt 17:5; Jn 1:1-18; Phl 2:5-11). He is the Messiah (Mt 16:13-17). His death and resurrection paid our debt of sin and merited eternal life for us. (Rom 5:6-11; 8:1-4). Jesus taught a way of life based on love of God and love of neighbor (Mk 12:28-34). His life makes known the profound depth of God's love for all people (Jn 3:16-17). Return to top How can I find out more about the Catholic Church?
Return to top The ordinary way for adults to join the Catholic Church is through a process called the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults. Baptism is the primary Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church. If you have not been Baptized and wish to be, you will enter a time of prayerful preparation. Through a series of sessions, you will be introduced to the Bible and given an understanding of the meaning of accepting Jesus Christ into your life and committing yourself to Jesus. If you have already been Baptized in a Christian tradition other than Catholic, you may be received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. A period of prayerful preparation in which you will learn the basic beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church will be required. Please visit or call St. Clare's Church Office at (313) 647-5000 to speak with a pastoral minister. You are also invited to join with other inquirers for an Inquirers' Meeting. There is no commitment required, only to come and see if this search might be for you. Call Paula Miller at (313) 647-5057 for more information. If you live far from St. Clare Church, contact a Catholic Church near you. Locate a nearby church on the Web at Mass in Transit. Click on "Mass Times" in the main menu. Then click on "Mass Times by City". Or look under "Churches-Catholic" or "Churches-Roman Catholic" in the Yellow Pages. Return to top How do I find St. Clare of Montefalco Church? Click here for a Map and Driving Directions to St. Clare of Montefalco Parish 
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